How to Store and Preserve Soccer Jerseys
Store soccer jerseys clean and completely dry, in a cool, dark, dry place. Hang the ones you wear on wide plastic or padded hangers; fold the ones you're keeping long-term, with acid-free tissue between the folds, and keep them in a breathable cotton bag or box rather than sealed plastic. Keep printed names, numbers and badges from pressing against each other or against rough fabric.
Most damage to a stored shirt comes from four things: light, heat, damp and pressure on the print. Avoid those and a polyester football shirt will keep its colour and shape for years.
Before you put it away
- Wash it. Sweat and body oils left in the fabric can discolour it over time. Wash it inside out on a cold, gentle cycle with no fabric softener.
- Dry it fully on a hanger, away from direct heat. Storing a shirt even slightly damp invites musty smells and mildew.
- Check the print and badges. If an edge is lifting, deal with it now; our guide to washing printed jerseys explains why heat is the usual cause.
Hanging or folding?
| Hang it | Fold it | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Shirts you wear regularly | Shirts you're keeping for years |
| Pros | No creases; easy to see your collection | No stretching at the shoulders; easy to box |
| Watch out for | Wire hangers, which leave bumps in the shoulders | Folding across a printed name or number |
How to hang a jersey
- Use a wide plastic, padded or wooden hanger that fills the shoulders. Thin wire hangers stretch the fabric into points.
- Leave a little space between shirts so prints and badges don't rub.
- Close the top button on a polo-collar shirt so the collar keeps its shape.
- Keep the wardrobe away from a sunny window; even indirect daylight fades strong colours over time.
How to fold a jersey for long-term storage
- Lay the shirt face down and smooth it flat.
- Place a sheet of acid-free tissue over the back, especially over any name and number.
- Fold each sleeve back along the side seam.
- Fold the sides in so the shirt is about the width of your box, then fold the bottom up once. Avoid a sharp fold across the printed number.
- Store it flat, in a cotton garment bag or an acid-free box, with no heavy items on top.
Where to keep it
- Good: a bedroom wardrobe or a shelf in a cool, dark cupboard.
- Bad: attics and garages, which get hot in summer, and basements, which get damp.
- Avoid sealed plastic such as dry-cleaning bags or vacuum bags for long storage. They trap moisture, and vacuum bags press prints together hard enough to make them stick.
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AC Milan 1995/96 Home Retro Soccer Jersey: red and black stripes with a white collar: strong colours that are worth protecting from sunlight.
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Manchester United 1998/00 Home Retro Soccer Jersey: red with a white collar and the sleeve badges of the time.
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Real Madrid 2006/07 Home Long-Sleeve Retro Soccer Jersey: a white long-sleeve; white shirts benefit most from being stored clean.
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Inter Milan 1995/96 Home Retro Soccer Jersey: blue and black stripes with a polo collar.
Preserving a special shirt
For a shirt you want to keep in perfect condition, such as a gift or a shirt from a match you attended, don't wear it, store it flat in an acid-free box and take it out once or twice a year to air and refold it in a slightly different place, so the folds don't set. Or put it on display: our guide to framing a soccer jersey shows how to do it without glue.
Bringing a stored shirt back
If a shirt comes out creased, hang it in a steamy bathroom for twenty minutes or give it a cold wash and hang it while damp. Polyester relaxes quickly. Avoid ironing over prints and badges.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better to hang or fold soccer jerseys?
Hang the ones you wear, on wide hangers. Fold the ones you're keeping long-term, with tissue in the folds.
Can I store jerseys in plastic bins?
For short periods, yes, if the shirts are completely dry. For long storage, a breathable cotton bag or acid-free box is safer, because plastic traps moisture.
Why has my stored jersey turned yellow?
Usually sweat or body oils left in the fabric, or long exposure to light. Wash shirts before storing them, and keep them in the dark.
Will a printed name stick to itself in storage?
It can, under pressure or heat. Put tissue over the print and don't stack heavy items on top.
